WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

SECOND ANNUAL MEKONG FLOOD FORUM 2003Inter-Continental Hotel, Phnom Penh

28-29 October 2003

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

Outline of the presentation

1. WFP interventions2. WFPs in the lower Mekong Basin3. The views of disaster victims 4. WFP-MRC data exchange5. Criteria for interventions6. WFP contingency planning7. Priority areas of intervention8. Estimated food needs9. Assessment findings10. Poverty and vulnerability mapping11. WFP new target areas: 2004-200612. Conclusion

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

WFP food–aid interventions

Food aid interventions provide a means to respond to both the short and long-term needs of relief victims.

In the short-term: meeting immediate and chronic food shortages and preventing loss of life and/or deterioration in nutritional status; preventing the loss of basic assets; providing an opportunity for victims to devote time and energy to rebuilding lost assets - both human and physical;

In the longer-term, under WFP’s Enabling Development policy: building human capacity through education and training; addressing nutritional needs of young children, expectant and nursing mothers; enabling poor families to gain and preserve assets; supporting disaster mitigation in areas prone to natural disasters.

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

WFP in the lower Mekong basin

WFP Cambodia:in 2002, provided 40,000 tons of food (=US$21.4 million) to assist 1.6 million Cambodians.

WFP Lao PDR:through 2 consecutive Emergency Operations, provided 8,536 tons of glutinous rice to 250,000 of the most flood-affected farming households (2000~2003).

WFP Regional Bureau for Asia (Bangkok): provides every possible assistance to WFP field operations.

Rivers & water bodies in the Mekong Basin

Source: Mekong River Commission

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

WFP observations on the LMB

KEY STRENGTHS A lot is known about where particular kinds of disasters are likely to

occur.

The typical effects of disasters are fairly predictable. The primary coordination responsibility for Disaster Management lies wit

h the National Committee: the NCDM in Cambodia; the NDMC in Lao PDR.

KEY WEAKNESSESS Water-related disasters tend to hit the same communities for consecutive

disaster years, laying a poverty trap for those the most vulnerable.

Rural household livelihood systems are predominantly subsistence-based

in nature and dependent upon rain-fed paddy rice production.

Domestic markets as well as trade between surplus and deficit areas are

significantly underdeveloped, leaving the deficit areas with limited food

supplies.

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

Experience in the 2002 disasters...

A farmer, Battambang district, Battambang province, Cambodia“I gave up cultivating rice near the Tonle Sap for three years because I would grow rice and still owe money to my neighbors.”

(The Cambodian Daily, 2nd October 2002)

Mrs. San Phirum, Taing Roniem village, Phnom Penh, Cambodia“Last year (in 2001), I lost more than half the rice yield to the flood. So we did not have enough to eat. And after the floods, we suffer from a new enemy: The drought.”

(The Cambodian Daily, 30th July 2002)

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

WFP’s Actions-the 2002 disastersDisaster Stage Description WFP’s Mitigation-oriented

Actions

Incubation period

(~Jul. 2002)

Period prior to the triggering event in which conditions develop that create the context a disaster

•Vulnerability analysis

•Contingency Planning

•Response Planning

Onset

(Aug.)

The immediate consequences of a natural hazard

•Coordination meetings

•Needs Assessments

Response

(Sep.~Dec.)

Rescue and salvage activities mainly consisting of saving lives and assets

•Relief activities

Recovery

(Jan.~Jun.2003)

Once life-saving measures have stabilized the situation, rebuilding/rehabilitating commence

•Asset creation using Food-for-Work (FFW) modality

•FFW Disaster Mitigation

Full adjustment

(Jul.2003~)

Society finally adjusts to the new reality created by the disaster

•Continued FFW Disaster Mitigation

•Incorporate “Lessons Learned” into WFP Programmes

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

MRC DATA WORK-WFP CambodiaDisaster Stage

Incubation period & Onset

Response & Recovery

Full adjustment

MRC Inundation Map

Disaster Vulnerability Map

Poverty & Vulnerability Map

WFP Needs Assessment Priority Area Map

WFP Contingency Planning

WFP Target Areas for 2004~2006

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

Food assistance was effective in 2002

Bachieng District, Champassak Province, Lao PDR“This ethnic village of 41 households has traditionally been rice deficit. 32 households were assisted to expand their paddy land through WFP Emergency Operation. The Operation agreed to provide rice rations equivalent to the creation of 0.25ha/household. In fact more paddy was cleared than planned and most households’ food security improved significantly. It is reported that short-term labour migration has reduced.”

(Evaluation Report EMOP 6311)

A student, Koas Krolor district, Battambang Province, Cambodia“Before, we followed the ox-cart tracks to school filled with rainwater and without any raincoat. Our uniform were soaked and dirtied. Now we are excited to have a new road that connects with our school. We arrive on time with clean clothes, even though it rains.”

(Handicap International Report on WFP Supported FFW Disaster Mitigation Project)

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

Food assistance was effective in 2002

(Oxfam Report on WFP Supported FFW Disaster Mitigation)

Mr. Soun Ser, Battambang Province, Cambodia“My family and I are very happy because we participated in our community work and received a good amount of food to assure my family’s food security for 4-6 months. I have lent 2 sacks of rice to my neighbours because they are facing a problem of food shortage.”

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

Conclusions

• The impact of disasters on people• The role of food aid as an effective response to

disaster needs• Importance of timely and appropriate response • The need for data exchange and analysis• The benefits of collaboration with MRC• The role of Government as a coordinating body

WFP Response to the 2002 floods and droughts

For any clarifications/further information, please feel free to contact:Yukinori Hibi, Programme Officer, WFP CambodiaE-mail: yukinori.hibi@wfp.org Tel: (855)23 212 137/138